Many people think that a dental implant is there simply to hold a false tooth or multiple false teeth in place and while this is certainly part of it, it isn’t its only job. There is another function that dental implants in Bromley perform that is absolutely vital, which is supporting the structure of the face as well as any other teeth that remain in the mouth. At Bromley Dental Practice we know and understand this function thoroughly which is why, when we suggest dental implants as a tooth replacement, we don’t do lightly. This is because we know it’s a long journey to undertake and wouldn’t recommend such a big surgery if it wasn’t actually necessary.

Dental implants hidden benefit

So what is this highly important function that dental implants in Bromley serve? Long story short – they keep your face in place. Seriously, here’s how it works.

The entire function of the bones surrounding the teeth is to keep the teeth in place. When you lose a tooth the bone no longer serves a purpose, so the body decides it’s time to reabsorb the bone. This is actually a delicate part of the ageing process but once that bone starts to dissolve, your face appears more sunken and you look older.

A dental implant replaces the tooth’s root thus encouraging the bone to grow and stay in place instead of dissolving. It does this through the use of titanium, a metal alloy which in the ’60s was discovered to be a brilliant substance to strengthen bone, as bone tissue in both humans and other mammals loves to grow around and fuse with this particular metal.

Does this mean that you need to replace each tooth with an implant? – No

While you can replace a single missing tooth with a dental implant that supports one false tooth, you can actually support a full set of dentures on only 4 implants and still have the full hidden benefits of implants. 4 carefully placed implants (2 at the top and 2 at the bottom) can support the entire jaw bone.

How does the surgery work?

Once you have been cleared for dental implant surgery we will numb the area of the face that needs to be worked on. It is important for nervous patients to note that this surgery can be performed under sedation, so that you can get through it without any anxiety. Once the area is numb we will cut open the gum so that we can drill a hole into the bone big enough for the implant to be screwed in. Once the implant is in we will close it up again and send you home for 6 months in order for the healing and fusing process to be complete, but don’t worry, you will be provided with a temporary crown or denture for that time.

After 6 months an abutment will be fitted to the dental implants in Bromley upon which a false tooth or set of false teeth can be fixed, and then your treatment is complete.